3. OUR IMPACT YA has a network of 34,687 global citizens and partners.
Other activities we are proud of: 75 children following early childhood development programmes at our crèches in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 223 youths in our on-site hostels in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 5,190 of visitors to one of our festivals. 29 Life Skills trainers certified to empower even more young people in essential life skills training. Disseminated our YA model to 140 organisations 62 organisations visited our training centres in Southern Africa 46 global citizens contributed to the work of Young Africa as volunteer 1.150 students did their high school education at Young Africa Zimbabwe
Economic activity (self-employment / employed) after graduation 2015—2018.
The percentage of graduates which have found (self-) employment within three months of graduation was in 2018 61,1%. This is lower than the last couple of years. The decrease is foremostly caused by the macro-economical situation of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where most of our graduates are. Finding a job or setting-up a business are very difficult in these conditions.
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DIRK BELLENS
Dirk Bellens, co-founder Young Africa Namibia: ‘’I have a background in sustainable development and worked for the Nieuwegein Municipality in the Netherlands. They have a city link with Rundu in Namibia and I increasingly invested my time in this project. Yvette, my wife and co-founder of YA Namibia, started to work for Young Africa in Zimbabwe in 2006 and I joined her in 2007 as management advisor. It was an intense and inspiring period. We wanted to set up a Young Africa centre ourselves, and Namibia was a logical choice. We focused on sustainability, for example with a Solar Technology training. Five years later, it’s time to handover to local management. I am the most proud of the team, with whom I shared all the highs and lows. I have full confidence in them!’’ Dirk, thank you so much for everything you have done for Young Africa!
www.youngafrica.org